A Supreme Court of India bench presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant has issued formal notice to the Union government regarding public interest litigations challenging executive directives that mandate the public recital of all six stanzas of the national song Vande Mataram. The legal petitions, filed by civil society representatives and academic scholars, challenge institutional mandates requiring the song’s performance in educational institutions and official state functions.
The petitioners argue that while the initial two stanzas of the composition were historically adopted with national consensus, the remaining four stanzas incorporate specific sectarian religious imagery that conflicts with secular governance and freedom of conscience under Articles 25 and 28 of the Constitution. Court filings describe the extended verses as problematic when imposed compulsory on diverse student populations. The top court requested detailed counter-affidavits from the Ministry of Home Affairs and state administrative departments, scheduling a formal constitutional hearing to examine the historical adoption records and statutory framework governing national patriotic symbols.
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Sources:
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-seeks-government-response-on-pleas-challenging-vande-mataram-as-a-divisive-religious-war-song/article71630270.ece